When selling products, there are certain events that raise the likelihood a customer will buy a product. A customer sees the inventory, that’s step one. They walk over to it and stop to look, step two. But once a customer actually touches the item, the likelihood of them making the purchase increases dramatically…

The best experiences in life are sensory. A hot chocolate on a cold day, a barefoot walk on a sandy beach, the clean smell after it rains— all of them are playing to the five senses. So why shouldn’t the brick-and-mortar retail shopping experience?…

Retail isn’t really about prices, it’s about profits. Adjusting prices is definitely one way to address profits, but the most successful merchants also ask, “what about the wholesale cost of my incoming inventory?”…

On the surface, the most successful small businesses usually aren’t that different from the competition. They sell the same products at similar prices, but when you examine success, the one thing that usually sets them apart is their culture….

How does an Icelandic rock band (who once released an album sung entirely in gibberish) win multiple awards and go on to be one of the most consistent, successful bands in alternative music worldwide? It sounds improbable. In fact, it sounds downright strange. But that’s kind of their secret…

It’s a common mistake. A young, ambitious entrepreneur will see a coffee shop open up on every corner of their city and think to themselves “I should open a coffee shop”. Hopefully, they have a seasoned adviser to ask them, “How do you plan to compete with all the other coffee shops?”...

It’s that time of year again! The days are getting shorter, the air is getting colder, and the in-laws are hunting for bargains on airfare. The holidays are upon us and that means it’s retail’s time to shine! - or at least brace. Here are a few stocking-stuffers to help you maintain firm control even during the busiest times...

“We’re out of stock.” Four words every customer hates to hear. And if customers hate to hear them, retailers downright loathe saying them. It means a lost sale and a disappointed customer, or (as your profit report will tell you) money lost now and money lost later...

Here at Shopventory, we work with thousands of merchants all over the globe, so we figured it's about time to address the myths about small-business growth and offer some of our own insights into the best ways to grow.

The advent of sites like Yelp, Angie's List, HundredX, Facebook, Google Reviews, and scores of others has absolutely changed the game in retail, especially for the food service industry. This means Customers will be drawn to— or driven from— your business before they even leave the house...

The Internet has brought us all a treasure trove of content. From a good Netflix binge to the free courses offered by Stanford University, there's a lot online to consume, more than one could in a lifetime. Much of it is indeed cat videos and pointless arguments, but the small business owner can find reliable gold mines if they know where to look...

You may have noticed something different at your local grocery store recently. You've probably also seen it in the restaurants in your city or even the local liquor store. It's something downright radical: Local Alternatives...

If you've been out in the streets at any point in the past couple of weeks, you may have noticed people even more engaged with their phones than normal. You may also have heard or seen something about the summer phenomenon that is Pokémon Go...

Fair-weather soccer fans and fútbol fanatics from around the world are currently glued to their televisions, running up huge streaming-related iPad data bills or (lucky ducks) catching the action live in Brazil. From amazing "Flying Dutchman" goals and countless team selfies, small business owners have a lot to from the World Cup this year. Entrepreneurs can benefit greatly by studying the organizations, brands, teams and fans of this epic event. Let's score some goals.

Maintain brand consistency: Not only has FIFA nailed this lesson by maintaining an active online and off-line presence, but individual teams and companies have been driving brand consistency through their blog posts, hashtags, social media strategies, advertising campaigns, even their swag.

You can't do it all. There's no "i" in team, as they say. If you have employees, remember to be a coach to your team—not just a boss. And don't be afraid to ask for help or say no. In social media especially, it's easy to spread yourself thin and lose focus. Fostering true community engagement online is impossible if you insist on having a tepid presence on every platform. FIFA has official accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. They aren't playing with Pinterest or LinkedIn or Vimeo or Snapchat, but they are doing right by those four active platforms.

Don't just share—engage. Brands have been steadily streaming tug-at-the-heartstrings content throughout the World Cup—bite-sized stories that engage fans, followers and customers. Or take a cue from the players themselves, whose cheeky videos, tweets and Instagrams have gone viral again and again—be real, get to know to your fans (err, customers) and give them a glimpse behind the scenes. Personality is magnetic across all platforms.

Winning isn't everything. Sure, every country wants to win, but the World Cup is truly about fans coming together over a shared love of the game. Despite cultural challenges, regional unrest and countless other everyday obstacles that our planet faces, events like this bring the world together to share in the excitement. As a small business owner, it's important to take your competition in stride, play fair (no red cards, y'all!) and keep your heart in the game even when your pride takes a hit.

Get by with a little help from your friends. That is, know your ecosystem and what other companies complement your business. In the same way FIFA leverages partnerships with Nike, you could be leveraging meaningful partnerships with your suppliers, media and more. Teamwork!